Research areas and structure

Academic staff have a strong record of research and publication within all the main subfields of politics, including:

• British politics: constitutional and parliamentary reform; devolution; electoral participation; alternative electoral systems.
• Comparative politics and government: democratisation; the politics of ethnicity; political campaigns and electoral behaviour; comparative urban, rural, and local politics; public opinion.
• EU politics and public policy: decision-making and institutions; regulation and delegation; lobbying; constitutionalism; citizenship and democracy.
• Human rights: human rights and globalisation; theories of human rights and justice; adjudication and interpretation; democracy, religion and human rights; global poverty and human rights; militias, non-state actors.
• International relations: international peace and security; globalisation and global governance; international migration; international finance; international trade and investment.
• Political economy: distributive politics in welfare states; political economy of development. 
• Public policy: business-government relations; executive and bureaucratic politics; public ethics.
• Political theory: the history of modern political thought; multiculturalism, toleration and citizenship; democracy and constitutionalism; contemporary political philosophy.

Research environment

The PhD programme in political science combines rigorous substantive and methodological training with independent research. Compared with similar PhD programs in Europe, the programme has a particular emphasis on methods training. In addition, the department has a vibrant research environment centred around a series of seminars and institutes. Every week you will meet academic staff members for research seminars with internal and external presenters. You are encouraged to attend weekly seminars, attended by academic staff, where you are able to present and comment on each other’s work. The series is divided into two along subject lines; one for empiricists and one for theorists. In addition, in your first year you will meet bi-weekly with academic staff in conjunction with Birkbeck, University of London to discuss ‘Big Books’ in Political Science. Finally, the department hosts a number of subject specific seminar series. These include seminars arranged by the Conflict & Change Research Cluster, the Policy & Practice seminar series, seminars arranged by the Constitution Unit as well as seminars and public events hosted by the Global Governance Institute. 

Full-time

The length of registration for the research degree programme is 3 years for full time and 5 years for part time

You are required to register initially for the MPhil degree with the expectation of transfer to PhD after successful completion of an upgrade viva 9-12 months after initial registration.  

Upon successful completion of your approved period of registration, you may register as a completing research student (CRS) while you write up your thesis.

In your first year, you will take non-credit bearing core modules that contribute to the research methods sequence. For students undertaking empirical political science research, the core modules are Advanced Qualitative Methods and either Introduction to Quantitative Methods or Advanced Quantitative Methods (depending on prior statistical training). Students undertaking research in political theory take the political theory methods seminar. Additionally, you may be encouraged to attend further non-credit bearing substantive or methodological courses where appropriate. 

You will be required to complete two pieces of assessed work during the first year. 

In years 2 and 3, you will continue writing your thesis. You are encouraged to present completed research at internal and external seminars and conferences, with the funding often provided by the department or other funding bodies. You may also take additional, non-credit bearing modules and courses where appropriate (e.g. ESRC Summer School, modules offered by other departments). Progress is monitored through a combination of supervisory meetings and presentations at the PhD Research Seminar. 

After three years, you may apply for additional 12 months (full time) to finish writing up your thesis. During this period, you will be registered as Completing Research Status (CRS). There are no student fees for CRS but you will continue to have full access to UCL facilities and services during this time. 

Your proposed timetable of study

Before 1 month         

• Field of study agreed.
• Assignment of supervisors.
• Agreement of strict timetable for supervisory and progress reports.
• Provision of necessary research equipment and facilities.

Before 3 months                     

• Agreement of thesis work plan, research method and timetable.
• Agreement of and attendance at Skills Development Programme and arrangements made for further required study.
• Beginning of work on the Methodology Paper.

6 months                                 

• Submission and assessment of progress report.

9 months                                

• Submission and assessment of the Methodology Paper.

12 months 

• Submission and assessment of first year progress report.
• Agreement of programme for the second year of study and transfer of registration from MPhil to PhD (between 9-12 months, but as early as reasonable).

24 months

• Submission and assessment of second year progress report.
• Agreement of thesis structure and strict timetable for thesis writing.

30 months

• Entry for examination.
• Nomination of Examiners.

36 months

• Submission of thesis

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support & Wellbeing team.